Abu Dhabi’s industrial GDP up 23% to Dhs111.6 billion in 2024

The Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (ADIS) is supercharging the manufacturing sector and accelerating the economic diversification in the emirate.

Since ADIS’s launch in June 2022, the industrial GDP in Abu Dhabi grew 23 per cent from Dhs90.8 billion in 2022 to Dhs111.6 billion in 2024, and number of industrial enterprises rise 19.4 per cent from 925 to 1,104, said Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).

Participating in a panel discussion on the opening day of the 4th session of ‘Make it in the Emirates’, Al Zaabi highlighted the initiatives and programmes of the UAE and Abu Dhabi aimed at fostering an investment climate that accelerates industrial growth and unlocks long-term economic resilience.

Al Zaabi added, “The UAE has developed a robust ecosystem that attracts and empowers global talents and high-quality investments as reflected in the significant growth of FDIs in various sectors, including the industrial sector.

He added that the UAE’s industrial strategy has established the right frameworks to stimulate the industrial sector with a strong focus on enhancing resilience to address emerging trends, challenges, and rapid changes through various programmes including talent development, financing, ease of doing business, supply chains, ICV, sustainability, Industry 4.0, and attraction of foreign direct investments.

“We work closely with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) to contribute to ‘Operation 300bn’ aiming to raise the industrial sector GDP to AED300 billion by 2031 and align with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy,” he said.

Al Zaabi explained that Abu Dhabi’s manufacturing sector increased its contribution to 53 per cent of UAE’s industrial GDP, which rose 6.6 per cent to AED210 billion in 2024. This is compared to a contribution of 51.3 per cent to the country’s industrial sector in 2023 and 46 per cent in 2022.

“A key component of our soaring ‘Falcon Economy’, ADIS is strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as the region’s most competitive industrial hub. It is guiding the manufacturing sector’s transition to Industry 4.0 and the adoption of smart manufacturing’s methods, techniques, and approaches,” he stated.

Last year, Abu Dhabi’s manufacturing sector remained the largest non-oil contributor to the emirate’s GDP, accounting for 9.5 per cent of total GDP and 17.3 per cent of non-oil GDP.

In Q1 of 2025, the industrial sector continued its growth with the number of new industrial licences rising 4.7 per cent t to 89 compared to 85 new licences in the corresponding period last year.

The number of industrial licences moved from under-construction to production stage surged by 65 per cent to 33 compared to 20 in Q1 of 2024.

Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy is rapidly emerging as a global centre of advanced industries and technologies, building world-class hubs for finance, advanced manufacturing, AI, and New Energy.

As part of its initiatives to capitalise on advanced technologies to address pressing needs and future-proof the economy, Abu Dhabi has been launching sector-specific clusters, including the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industries (SAVI), AgriFood Growth & Water Abundance (AGWA), and Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM).

Meanwhile the Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD) has released preliminary statistical estimates for Abu Dhabi’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2024 in March, showing significant annual economic growth driven by the thriving non-oil sector.

The 2024 GDP data highlights Abu Dhabi’s sustained economic momentum, with total GDP and non-oil GDP reaching record values for the third consecutive year.

The emirate’s real GDP expanded by 3.8 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching an all-time high value of Dhs1.2 trillion, driven by the non-oil economy which recorded a strong growth rate of 6.2 per cent, marking its highest-ever annual contribution of 54.7 per cent to total GDP. This underscores Abu Dhabi’s continued success in implementing economic diversification strategies and fostering sustainable, long-term growth.

The non-oil sector remained the primary driver of economic momentum, with total non-oil GDP added value reaching Dhs644.3 billion, setting a record for the third consecutive year.

Key sectors including manufacturing, construction, finance and insurance, information and communication, wholesale and retail trade, education, and health, achieved their highest-ever values, reflecting the emirate’s commitment to industrial development, infrastructure investment, and human capital enhancement.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), said, “The consistent, remarkable performance of the Falcon Economy in the past years is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s forward-thinking economic strategies, progressive policies, and proactive responses to an evolving global landscape.”

Since Abu Dhabi

Industrial

Strategy’s

launch in June

2022, number

of industrial

enterprises rise

19.4 per cent

from 925 to 1,104